The Shapeshifter's Lair

August 1, 2020
Fans of ancient history, myths, and swashbuckling adventures are likely to enjoy this tale set in seventh-century Ireland. When Princess Gelg�is of Osraige is kidnapped on her way to visit the Abbey of Blessed C�emgen in the distant country of Laigin, her fianc�, King Colg�, sends his sister, Fidelma, to investigate. Fidelma, a trained d�laigh?advocate of the law?is concerned about venturing into Laigin, which has long been an enemy of Osraige. When she arrives, she realizes she will need help to avoid offending the locals and being attacked by enemy Laiginese. She decides to visit powerful and fearsome local ruler Dicuil D�na, Lord of the Cuala. He agrees to support and protect Fidelma, but only if she investigates the theft of precious gold and silver from Dicuil D�na's mines. Undaunted by the two formidable tasks, Fidelma uses her intelligence, legal knowledge, intuition, and tenacity to link the princess' kidnapping and the thefts from the mines. With liberal sprinklings of ancient Irish dialect (always explained), this is a challenging and unusual but deeply satisfying and enjoyable historical thriller.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from July 13, 2020
Tremayne returns to top form in his atmospheric 31st whodunit set in seventh-century Ireland (after 2019’s Blood in Eden). Law court advocate Sister Fidelma, who’s the sister of King Colgú of Muman, is frustrated. After an unsuccessful effort to become Chief Brehon, or legal arbiter, for her brother’s regional kingdom, she’s been reduced to serving as the monarch’s legal adviser, relegated to studying new decisions from an appellate court. A fraught murder mystery relieves her boredom. A colleague, Brehon Brocc, who was travelling with Princess Gelgéis, Colgú’s fiancée, was found lying on a mountain track in an area rumored to be haunted by shape-shifting beings. Someone first shot Brocc with an arrow before slitting his throat, and the discovery of his corpse coincides with the disappearance of the princess, who was instrumental in foiling a plot to dethrone Colgú, and the princess’s steward. Fidelma investigates, only to find that a key witness, the peddler who came across Brocc’s body, has been killed. Tremayne expertly incorporates historical and legal details of the time into the suspenseful plot. This impressive volume bodes well for future series entries. Agent: Euan Thorneycroft, A.M. Heath (U.K.).

July 1, 2020
An accomplished advocate of the law courts continues her detective adventures in seventh-century Ireland. Fidelma, her husband, Eadulf, and the warrior Enda leave Muman to find Princess Gelg�is, her brother King Colgu's betrothed. It's a dangerous undertaking, for they must cross into hostile Laigin territory. Gelg�is and her steward vanished on a trip to seek advice from her cousin, the Abbot of the Abbey of the Blessed C�emgen. C�tach, a peddler, arrived at the abbey with the body of Brehon Brocc, who was traveling with Gelg�is but was found, his throat cut, on a mountain trail. The only clues the body provides, aside from the fact that the killer was almost certainly left-handed, are an arrow and a small pebble found on his corpse. On a trip to a nearby village, the sleuths find C�tach in his hovel with his throat cut. Intending to report the death to the local Brehon, Fidelma finds him absent and his assistant, her law school classmate Beccnat, surprisingly hostile. The three set off with a local guide to The Cuala, where Dicuil D�na, an uncle to the Laigin ruler, controls valuable mining interests in the mountains. Captured by Dicuil D�na's warriors, Fidelma agrees to investigate who's stealing gold and silver from his mines and for what purpose. After many false trails, she finds enough proof to stage a trial where all is dramatically revealed. One of the best cases for the complex, enchanting Fidelma, whose adventures, rich in historical detail, rarely disappoint.

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